By Shanay Nijjar
Imagine a future where death is no longer the end.
Right now,in facilities across the world, bodies lie frozen in tanks of liquid nitrogen at a temperature of approximately – 196°C. These individuals have placed their faith in cryonics: the process of freezing the human body after death in the hope that future medical advancements will one day be able to bring them back to life.
This process is based on the idea that if a body is preserved at an extremely low temperature, the cells and tissues in the body will remain intact. Whilst no human has been revived from cryogenic sleeping, the science behind it continues to evolve, with some researchers already successfully vitrifying and partially recovering small structures such as corneas, heart valves and blood vessels.
These advancements raise one question in everybody’s minds: could we one day cheat death itself?
So, how does the process really work? When someone is declared legally dead, the body is slightly cooled, and their circulation is maintained in order to prevent any tissue damage. Next, chemicals known as cryoprotectants are introduced to prevent the formation of ice crystals, which can damage and destroy cells. The process of vitrification must then be undergone to slowly cool the body to ensure the bodily fluids become a glass like solid without forming ice. Once the body has been fully prepared, it is stored in a vacuum – sealed container known as a dewar in a cryogenic laboratory. These dewars are filled with liquid nitrogen with a temperature of around – 196°C to allow the body to be preserved. These bodies will remain there until there are further scientific advancements which allow them to be revived.
However, let us not forget that no human has ever been revived from cryogenic freezing as there are still many major scientific challenges and limitations. One of these issues is cellular damage. Whilst cryoprotectants are used to prevent cellular damage, the long – term effect of keeping a body at -196°C for centuries is still unknown. Secondly, bringing someone back to life would require major scientific breakthroughs with advanced technology that doesn’t currently exist. Without these scientific advancements, people will not be able to be revived.
In order for cryonics to be a possible option in the future, significant scientific advancements must be reached. This includes advancements in regenerative medicine which could help repair any potential cellular damage caused by the freezing process. AI could also be proven useful in bringing out these advancements along with tissue engineering to discover ways in which biological function can be restored after revival. While these technologies are still in their early stages of development, continued progress could bring cryonics closer to being a practical option for all.
Cryonics also brings about religious and ethical concerns on whether we should even be attempting to “cheat death”. One major issue is cost. Cryopreservation certainly isn’t cheap, with large cryonics companies charging substantial amounts of money. For example, the Cryonics Institute charges $28,000 while Alcor charges $220,000 for whole body cryopreservation. This is not just an issue because it is unaffordable, but because many worry that only the wealthy will have access to this opportunity, creating social inequality. Not only this, but religious groups argue that having a chance at a second life interferes with the beliefs about the afterlife and whether or not it is right to challenge the natural cycle of life and death. Others worry about the psychological effects on people who may be revived in the future without any family.
Whilst cryonics is still mostly a theory, it’s definitely an interesting one. The idea of freezing yourself in the hope that future scientific advancements can bring you back is both exciting and unsettling. While technology is improving, there is no guarantee that revival will be possible. Some people see it as a definite chance to relive their life while others see it as just an expensive gamble. Either way, it raises some big questions about life, death, and what the future might hold. Which leaves you with the question: would you freeze yourself for a shot at a second life?